85 research outputs found
Impact of primary users on the connectivity of a cognitive radio network
No full textWe analyze the impact of primary users on the secondary network connectivity in a cognitive radio network. The analysis is based on the second smallest Laplacian eigenvalue, i.e., the algebraic connectivity, re-elaborated in a cognitive scenario. The contribution of this paper is twofold: first we derive the form of the average Laplacian matrix of the network, averaged over the random activity of the primary users, and compute the second smallest Laplacian eigenvalue of this matrix. We derive in this way the compact cognitive algebraic connectivity and we show that, in the scenarios we are interested in, it represents a valid estimation of the expected value of the cognitive algebraic connectivity. The second contribution is the evaluation of the impact of different topological parameters on the compact cognitive algebraic connectivity. ©2010 IEEE
Design of a smart system for indoor climate control in historic underground built environment
No full textThe application of sensors-actuators networks in Building Heritage can lead to significant improvement in indoor climate control, with the aim to both reduce energy consumption, and improve conditions for occupants and hosted Heritage. This study proposes the preliminary design of a smart indoor climate control system, based on low-impact application criteria, which can be applied to visited underground built environment. The system is based on the balance of hygrothermal loads. Sensors and actuators requirements are defined, and control algorithm are based on the comparison between real-time monitored and “natural” temperature and hygrometric values (for stationary and transitory conditions)
Sorting of cells from different cell cycle phases using surface antigen expression
No full textDetailed procedures are presented for obtaining highly enriched human Daudi cell population in different cell cycle phases. This protocol allows harvest of enriched G1 or S-G2 phase cells based on the recognition of a cell surface marker antigen by anti-CD11a antibody and sorting. Sorted cells are able to cycle and a wave of synchronisation appears. Relative advantages of the method over chemically induced cell synchronisation are discussed
Low-dose alemtuzumab-associated immune thrombocytopenia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
No full textChronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is frequently complicated during
its course by autoimmune disorders (from 2 to 12% of cases), such as
autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and immune thrombocytopenic
purpura (ITP). In particular, ITP has been reported in about 2–5% of
CLL population [1,2]. Recently, Cuker et al. reported the occurrence of
ITP in 6/216 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in a
phase 2 clinical trial of annual alemtuzumab [3]. Alemtuzumab is an
anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody used in CLL both as first-line treatment
and in relapsed/refractory patients [4,5]. We evaluated a cohort
of 64 consecutive patients affected by relapsed-refractory CLL treated
with low-dose alemtuzumab and we observed a incidence of ITP
higher than predicted. Our data, associated with the report of Cuker
et al., seem to suggest an important role of alemtuzumab in the pathogenesis
of ITP which could be related to its induced dysregulation of
T-lymphocyte activit
[Donor and recipient selection in living donor kidney transplantation: eligibility]
No full textThis review is intended to be a guide for the physician to evaluate and prepare a donor / recipient couple for living kidney transplantation. Although it is intended to be exhaustive, it will not be able to respond at all possible and different cases, but it may apply at most of them. Renal transplantation is considered the choice treatment for patients with chronic renal failure and if the kidney transplant is performed pre-emptive it is associated with better organ and patient survival. The main aim of the program is to evaluate the risks of donor and recipient and to ensure the donor safety and well-being. Eligibility for living transplant can only be granted when the risks are acceptable, well defined and the couple is adequately informed. The review includes clinical and legal procedures needed to transplantation. Early conditions that contraindicate the transplant must be removed, to avoid unnecessary exams, excessive waste of time, money. The sequence of the exams has been ordered so that costly and invasive surveys are carried out only after other simple and essential investigations have confirmed the transplant suitability. Special attention should be paid to the renal function measurement, proteinuria, hematuria, hypertension, obesity, pre diabetes, renal calculus, and cancers. To give eligibility for living transplant is often not easy, but a careful study can avoid many complications and improve the transplant outcome
ELISPOT assays with pp65 peptides or whole HCMV antigen are reliable predictors of immune control of HCMV infection in seropositive kidney transplant recipients
No full text: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection represents a major complication for solid organ transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to verify if the measurement of HCMV-specific T-cells could help to identify patients protected against HCMV disease cytokine flow cytometry using infected dendritic cells as stimulus (CFC-iDC, which discriminates between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), and ELISPOT, using infected cell lysate (ELISPOT-iCL) or pp65 (ELISPOT-pp65) as stimulus, were adopted. Among the 47 kidney transplant recipients (KTR) enrolled, 29 had a self-resolving HCMV infection (Controllers) and 18 required antiviral treatment (Non-Controllers). HCMV-specific T-cell frequency at the peak of HCMV infection identified Controllers and Non-Controllers, although the diagnostic performance of CD8+ CFC-iDC (area under the curve [AUC] of the receiver-operator characteristic curve: 0.65) was lower than that of CD4+ CFC-iDC (AUC: 0.83), ELISPOT-iCL (AUC: 0.83) and ELISPOT-pp65 (AUC: 0.80). CFC-iDC detected a protective immune reconstitution significantly earlier (median time: 38 days) than ELISPOT-iCL and ELISPOT-pp65 (median time: 126 and 133 days, respectively). Time to protective immune reconstitution in Non-Controllers was significantly longer than in Controllers with the ELISPOT and the CD4+ CFC-iDC assays, but not with CD8+ CFC-iDC. The majority of patients did not require antiviral treatment after protective immune reconstitution, with the exception of five patients according to CFC-iDC assay, one patient according to ELISPOT-iCL assay and three patients according to ELISPOT-pp65 assay. Monitoring the HCMV-specific immunological reconstitution with is effective in discriminating KTR at risk of or protected from HCMV disease and the ELISPOT assays are suitable for implementation in the clinical setting
Performance of Whole Blood Stimulation Assays for the Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 Specific T-Cell Response: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textSince the identification of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a huge effort in terms of diagnostic strategies has been deployed. To date, serological assays represent a valuable tool for the identification of recovered COVID-19 patients and for the monitoring of immune response elicited by vaccination. However, the role of T-cell response should be better clarified and simple and easy to perform assays should be routinely introduced. The main aim of this study was to compare a home-made assay for whole blood stimulation with a standardized ELISpot assay design in our laboratory for the assessment of spike-specific T-cell response in vaccinated subjects. Even if a good correlation between the assays was reported, a higher percentage of responder subjects was reported for immunocompromised subjects with ELISpot assay (56%) than home-made whole blood stimulation assay (33%). Additionally, three commercial assays were compared with our home-made assay, reporting a good agreement in terms of both positive and negative results
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